REBECCA BRYAN RAD RTS

Co-Owner/

Artistic Director

Rebecca Bryan is a certified-registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, one of six in the state of Florida. She has been teaching for over twenty years, owning and directing three schools in Houston, TX, Bradenton, FL and now Sarasota, FL. She has had extensive classical ballet training under the Royal Academy of Dance and the Cecchetti Council of America.

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Her keen sense of communication and patience with students and their individual abilities, instills a discipline and eagerness to learn. Her unique method of teaching sparks a love of the arts in students of all ages.

MEGHAN SINCLAIR

Co-Owner/

Artistic Director

Meghan Sinclair is a versatile creative artist, educator and choreographer. Her formative training included classical ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap. She trained under master teachers, including Rebecca Bryan RAD RTS, Gillian Davis ARAD RTS, Delise Teamer RAD RTS, and Catriona Steel RAD RTS. She studied with Phillip Burnham while training for her Vocational RAD exams. Over the years she performed a multitude of variations, contemporary and jazz works.  

Meghan has 20 years experience teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and tap to students of all levels. Not only do her ballet students consistently earn top marks of merit and distinctions in their yearly exams, her students have also earned top awards, overall placements, and workshop scholarships from conventions and competitions including: Youth America Grand Prix, NYCDA, 24Seven, Jump, Revel, Radix, and Dance Educators of America, to name a few.  

She is Acrobatic Arts certified and a founding IDEA member.  Meghan has encompassed the passion of discipline, love of performance and the heart and patience for teaching. 

EMILY ARTHUR

Faculty

Showcase Manager

​Emily Arthur is thrilled to be a teacher at Sarasota Dance Academy, and is eager to embark on another exciting season of dance. Emily graduated from the University of South Florida – St. Petersburg, where she earned a degree in history and education with summa cum laude distinction. Previously, Emily has danced with several local schools, where she has accumulated years’ worth of training in classical ballet and en pointe. She enjoys performing, and has had roles in various dance and community theater productions. She has also spent her time as a teaching assistant in several elementary and high school classrooms, where she has worked to infuse the arts with common curriculum. She seeks to foster an environment that is creative, engaging, and thoughtful, and looks forward to working with students of Sarasota Dance Academy as they navigate and explore their education and passion for dance.

SARA METZLER

Faculty

Sarah Metzler, born in Valparaiso, Indiana, began dancing at the age of six at a local studio. Later she and her family relocated to Florida, and she continued her training at the Florida Ballet School. In 2006 Sarah trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, before being invited to be a trainee with the Sarasota Ballet. She then was a professional dancer with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland for two seasons. Sarah then returned to the Tampa area to be closer to family and began teaching at various studios. She was a coach to a few select students in preparation for Youth America Grand Prix in 2012. In February 2013, Sarah was invited to join the Brandon Ballet company as a dancer and faculty member in the pre-professional program. In April of 2017, she was a guest judge at Ticket to Broadway Dance competitions in both Venice and Coral Springs. In 2018, Sarah was invited to be a guest principal dancer in Indiana Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake and danced the lead of Odette/Odile.

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Currently Sarah is freelancing in Sarasota, FL, and teaching at Sarasota Dance Academy.  She is dedicated to providing quality training as well as life skills to SDA students. Sarah believes in providing top quality training to young aspiring dancers to give them their best foot forward. She has an immense love for performing and loves to educate and pass down her passion to future generations of dancers.

JOSEPH KING

Faculty & Choreographer

Joseph king was born in Akron, Ohio. He started dancing when he was 17. His dance education is in ballet, classical modern, tap and jazz. He has danced with such companies as Dancing Wheels, Tampa Ballet Theatre and the Brandon Ballet. He was also the Assistant Artistic Director of The Nelson Grey academy of Dance, as well as West Hernando Ballet.

JENNIFER PERRY

Faculty

Jennifer is excited to be training the talented students at Sarasota Dance Academy. Her credits include over 200 performances as Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, over 100 performances in Neil Goldberg’s Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and in Mark Marino’s off Broadway debut of Mixed Emotions. She has appeared on nationally aired television programs for Univision and ESPN and in commercials for Radio City Productions, Foxwoods and Univision. Jennifer has performed in many corporate industrials including Coca-Cola, Goodyear and Bayer and has taught around the country on the faculty of prestigious dance organizations including Dance Olympus, Dance Educators of America and Florida Dance Masters. She has judged regional and national competitive dance events for On Stage America, Dance USA and others. Jennifer holds a BFA degree in Dance Performance from the University of South Florida (USF) where she was a member of the UDA National Finalist USF SunDolls Dance Team.

HOPE MISENHEIMER

Faculty

Events Coordinator

Hope was 2 years old when her dance career started with ballet and tap. Followed closely by Hip-Hop, Jazz, and contemporary in elementary. She joined her first competition team the 7th grade, which led her to the elite competition team in high school which encouraged her to add pointe and clogging to her repertoire. She also became interested in acro during this time. In a addition to studio dance she performed with her high school drill team, serving as Lieutenant her senior year. Her love for teaching dance began when she was an assistant teacher for Keri’s Dance Factory. She says her favorite thing about teaching is sharing her passion and love for dance with younger generations of dancers.

KATHRYN KALAMARAS

Faculty & Choreographer

Kathryn Kalamaras, originally from the suburbs of Chicago, has been professionally dancing, modeling, choreographing, and teaching for the past four years in Denver, Colorado. She has had the pleasure of dancing with Life/ Art Dance Ensemble, In The Wings Aeriel Company, Thrive Ballet Company, Evolving Doors Modern Dance Company, Kim Robards’ Modern Dance Company, Ethereum Modern Dance Company, Nosilla Modern Dance Company, and Dream Project Dance Company. She has also had the privilege to perform and choreograph in several other projects/ entertainment events, as well as directed her own company called Bl!nk Modern Dance Company, and also managed two back up dancing businesses; Bonnies on Tap and K&M Entertainment.

Kat grew up a bun head in Crystal Lake, Illinois and attended Alma college in Michigan on scholarship where she received her B.A in Dance Performance. Throughout her career she has studied ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, character, jazz, hip hop, and yoga. During college, she had the opportunity to study and perform at ACDA two years in a row, and choreographed her own full length show as her senior thesis. Kat also attended American Dance Festival’s summer intensive in 2016 where she studied with renowned artists such as Nia Love, Paul Matteson, and Otto “aquaboogie” where she mainly focused on modern, improv, and hip hop. She also was casted and performed at the international choreographer’s showcase.

Along with dancing, she has a passion for teaching dance. Kat has been teaching for the past ten years throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Colorado area. She also has had the pleasure of coming on as a guest teacher/ choreographer for various studios, and has also been creating series of film work with herself, company, and students. Kat also models professionally outside of dance and has a background in painting and art. She has participated in several art shows and fashion shows. New to Florida, she hopes to continue her dancing and growth in her craft.

CAROL KLEIN

Faculty

Carol is a native New Yorker, born in Manhattan. Having access to wonderful dance training, she studied tap, jazz and ballet at the Broadway Dance Center under the direction of Frank Hatchett, Germaine Salsberg Charles Kelly and Luigi. Also, many years of study with Lynda Gache, a former Rockette. Carol owned and operated her own dance school on Long Island for 33 years, teaching and inspiring thousands of students. She directed and danced in many performances such as half time shows for the NY Jets, NJ Nets, Magic Kingdom, and an Off-Broadway show at the American Place Theatre. Perhaps the most memorable dance occasion, Carol and several students joined many in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest assembly of tap dancers!

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She is a certified dance and fitness educator. Including certifications with Dance Educators of America, BASI Pilates, Aqua Zumba, Zumba , Aqua pole. She also teaches ethnic dancing such as Irish dance (soft and hard shoe) and belly dancing.

SHERI FERDINANDT

Office Manager

Sheri Ferdinandt has over 15 years’ experience as an administrator at dance and gymnastics facilities throughout Florida. She has always been drawn to the creative process and has a degree in Commercial Art. Sheri loves watching the smiling faces when the dancers walk in the door and developing lasting relationships with the students and parents.

KELSEY NELSON LACK

Guest Faculty & Choreographer

Kelsey has over 25 years of dance experience ranging from major motion pictures to teaching students all across North America, judging for several prestigious dance competitions within the United States, and creating her own conditioning program for dancers. She received her Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University.

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Some of Kelsey's professional performing credits include working with choreographers like Fatima Robinson on Anchorman II: The Legend Continues (major motion picture), Mia Michaels on Rock of Ages (major motion picture), Disney's Million Dollar Arm (major motion picture), HSN, Royal Caribbean International, Feld Entertainment/Feld Motor Sports, Cirque Productions, Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens, Hardrive Inc., Event Show Productions, D Squared Productions, Cirque USA, and many more.

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Along with performing, Kelsey has a passion for providing quality instruction and choreography. She has had the opportunity to continually develop both her teaching and choreography portfolio by working with St. John's University, Wake Forest University, McKendree University, University of South Florida, New Bern High School (NC), Father Lopez High School (FL), Barron Collier High School (FL), Oviedo High School (FL), Victoria's School of Dance, USA Ambassador Pageant, Cirque USA, BookAFlashMob.com, Universal Dance Association and many studios located within the United States and Canada. Kelsey has been honored to be a Master Instructor for National Dance Alliance, Universal Dance Association and Dance Team Union in the past few years.

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You can find Kelsey on the judging panel of several different national competitions and as a member of Impact Dance Adjudicators. She has had the honor of judging several different National Finals for Universal Dance Association and USASF. She is always working to provide the most beneficial and valuable critiques possible to help both students and teachers alike grow and develop. Her passion for dance spreads wide and far and is always looking for new ways to continue to expand her wings in the entertainment and education industry.

JARVIS MARDIS

Guest Faculty & Choreographer

A native of Grenada, MS, Jarvis has competed in many regional and dance competitions.

He worked in Busch Gardens in the shows KATONGA and Dance to the Music. He recently has been accepted to a position with Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. Jarvis has worked with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and is an alumni of The Chocolate Nutcracker, season 2004. He was in the top 75 of 5000, of So You Think You Can Dance Season 3, and danced before 45,000 in Frankfurt Germany for the launching of Hope the Musical.

Jarvis was selected by LAD and U.S. Embassy and Ministry of Cultural Affairs in an artistic exchange in Moscow, Russia where he conducted workshops and performed during International Dance Day 2010 with LAD. He is also member of the United Nations of Dance Musical Performance Troupe.

DINA TIGELEIRO

Guest Faculty

Dina Tigeleiro is a versatile Instructor and Choreographer, with over ten years of teaching experience. She is certified in Acrobatic Arts 1, 2, and Adjudication, and she has multiple Ballet Certifications through Progressing Ballet Technique, and Florida Dance Masters. She is eager to share her philosophy and creativity with the dancers at Sarasota Dance Academy. 

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Dina emphasizes the importance of technique and how to translate that into expressive movement. She is always striving to expand her knowledge and training, so that she may offer the best instruction to her students. Her goal is to inspire and develop powerful, expressive dancers who share the love and dedication for this beautiful art-form.

RUBIE GAUDETTE

Guest Faculty 

Rubie is an athletic trainer at IMG Academy where she works with the varsity and national football programs. Rubie began dance at a young age at the Turning Point Dance Center in Biddeford Maine. She grew up on performance and competition teams at TTPDC and danced for her high school’s dance company, where she first started choreographing for school performances. After high school Rubie joined the modern dance company, Collective Motion. She attended the University of Southern Maine, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training to go on to Western Michigan University, obtaining a Masters of Science in Athletic Training. While in college she not only danced and choreographed for Collective Motion, she was also a member of the Lady Red Claws and a Portland Pirates Ice Girl. Dance has always been an important part of her life and she couldn’t be happier to share her love for it.